On Monday, 23rd May, OPPO India announced the launch of its OPPO Elevate Program in collaboration with Microsoft to further empower the Indian startup ecosystem.
The focus theme of the program is Virtuous Innovation, and under which OPPO India would accept proposals under two entry categories:
- Accessible Technology
- Digital Health
The company stated that startups from these two categories, driven by the same purpose of technology utilization and creative inspiration to create a better world, can apply to showcase their innovations.
A jury of experts, led by VP and Head of OPPO India, Tasleem Arif, and Microsoft for Startup’s Country Head – India, Madhurima Agarwal, will review the proposals.
“The Elevate program can open doors for like-minded innovators of the new age to use ‘virtuous innovation’ to build technology solutions that benefit the world and tackle social issues,” said Arif.
The first edition of the ‘OPPO Elevate’ program has seen remarkable success. With the second edition, “we aim to boost innovation in health and accessibility and highlight innovations from India on a global platform,” said Arif.
The Elevate Program Offerings to Startups
The top 10 startups picked for the program will get a chance to present their proposals to the jury in August this year during an event. These startups will also get a chance to collaborate with OPPO for applicable technical discussions and access to facilities like mobile devices, spaces, and labs on mutually agreed terms and schedules, the company announced.
The jury will select three startups, and those selected will enter the global Innovation Accelerator Program and stand a chance to win grants worth 46k USD each. In addition, they will also be entitled to further technical support, investment opportunities, a promotion at global events, and research and commercial partnerships.
As part of the program, all participants will get an invitation to Microsoft for Startups Founders and Hub. Eligible innovations can receive about 150k USD worth of Azure credits, guidance and mentoring from technical and business experts, and access to its world-class productivity and developer tools.
“The collaboration between Microsoft for Startups and OPPO India extends our commitment to encourage innovation and entrepreneurial energy of startups in India. We hope to help startups scale the impact of digital innovation with the combined resources of both organizations via this program,” said Agarwal.
The application for the second edition of the OPPO Elevate Program is open till 10th July.
More About The OPPO India Elevate Program
The brand had launched the OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator to bring creative solutions to life and work together to build a better future. Even in these uncertain times, the initiative strives to motivate all tech innovators to tackle some of the most pressing issues plaguing society.
OPPO has been working with startups worldwide to develop solutions in the areas of accessible technology and digital health. As a part of the initiative, the company also developed Simple Mode, Screen Share, and other features specifically for elderly consumers.
These features have garnered overwhelmingly good feedback from users since their release. They have helped alleviate many of the common issues that older people have while utilizing technology, the company wrote in its blog post.
You can learn more about the program and submit or refer to a proposal on their official websites linked here.
